Capacitive gap sensor ring for an input device

Abstract

An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 a force-sensitive input system coupled to the housing and comprising:
 an input member external to the housing and configured to receive:
 a first input resulting in a first force acting on the input member in a first direction; and 
 a second input resulting in a second force acting on the input member in a second direction different from the first direction; 
 
 a first set of conductors coupled to the input member; 
 a deformable material; and 
 a second set of conductors separated from the first set of conductors by the deformable material and configured to move relative to the first set of conductors in response to the first input and the second input; and 
 
 a processing unit operably coupled to the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors and configured to determine, based at least in part on a change in an electrical property detected at least one of the first set of conductors or the second set of conductors:
 a first force value associated with the first force; and 
 a second force value associated with the second force. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electronic device is a watch; 
 the watch further comprises a band coupled to the housing and configured to attach the watch to a user; and 
 the input member is a crown positioned along a side of the housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first input causes the input member to rotate relative to the housing; and 
 the second input causes the input member to translate relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the force-sensitive input system further comprises a shaft coupled to the housing; and 
 the deformable material couples the input member to the shaft. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the second set of conductors is coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the electrical property is a change in capacitance between at least one conductor of the first set of conductors and at least one conductor of the second set of conductors. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first input causes the input member to rotate from a first rotational position to a second rotational position; 
 the first input causes the deformable material to deform; and 
 the deformable material imparts a returning force on the input member to return the input member to the first rotational position. 
 
     
     
       8. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 an input member coupled to the housing and comprising a cap configured to move relative to the housing in response to an input applied to the cap; 
 a first ring of capacitive elements coupled to the cap, the first ring of capacitive elements comprising a first set of conductors; 
 a second ring of capacitive elements separated from the first ring of capacitive elements by a deformable material and fixed relative to the housing, the second ring of capacitive elements comprising a second set of conductors; and 
 a processing unit configured to determine a force associated with the input based at least in part on a change in capacitance between a conductor of the first set of conductors and a conductor of the second set of conductors. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the change in capacitance is caused by a change in an offset between the conductor of the first set of conductors and the conductor of the second set of conductors. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the input is a first input causing the cap to move in a first direction relative to the housing; 
 the force is a first force; 
 the change in capacitance is a first change in capacitance; 
 the cap is configured to move in a second direction relative to the housing in response to a second input applied to the cap, the second direction different from the first direction; and 
 the processing unit is further configured to determine a second force associated with the second input based at least in part on a second change in capacitance between the conductor of the first set of conductors and the conductor of the second set of conductors. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first direction includes a rotation of the cap relative to the housing; and 
 the second direction includes a translation of the cap relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the rotation is a rotation about a rotational axis of the cap; and 
 the translation is a translation parallel to the rotational axis of the cap. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the electronic device further comprises a shaft fixed relative to the housing; and 
 the second ring of capacitive elements is coupled to the shaft. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the deformable material is coupled to the shaft and the cap; and 
 the deformable material is a deformable dielectric material. 
 
     
     
       15. A force-sensing input system comprising:
 a fixed member; 
 a first array of capacitive elements coupled to the fixed member; 
 an input member coupled to the fixed member, the input member configured to receive: 
 a first input resulting in the input member moving in a first direction relative to the fixed member; and 
 a second input resulting in the input member moving in a second direction, different from the first direction, relative to the fixed member; 
 a second array of capacitive elements coupled to the input member; 
 a deformable material coupling the fixed member and the input member and configured to deform in response to the first input and the second input; and 
 a processing unit configured to determine:
 a first force value associated with the first input based at least in part on a first change in capacitance between the first array of capacitive elements and the second array of capacitive elements; and 
 a second force value associated with the second input based at least in part on a second change in capacitance between the first array of capacitive elements and the second array of capacitive elements. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The force-sensing input system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first input results in the input member rotating from an initial position to a rotated position relative to the fixed member; and 
 the second input results in the input member translating from the initial position to a translated position relative to the fixed member. 
 
     
     
       17. The force-sensing input system of  claim 16 , wherein the deformable material imparts a returning force on the input member to return the input member to the initial position. 
     
     
       18. The force-sensing input system of  claim 17 , wherein the deformable material is a polymer. 
     
     
       19. The force-sensing input system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first change in capacitance results from a change in overlap of a first capacitive element of the first array of capacitive elements and a second capacitive element of the second array of capacitive elements; and 
 the second change in capacitance results from a change in distance between a third capacitive element of the first array of capacitive elements and a fourth capacitive element of the second array of capacitive elements. 
 
     
     
       20. The force-sensing input system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the input member is further configured to receive a third input resulting in the input member moving in a third direction, different from the first direction and the second direction, relative to the fixed member; and 
 the processing unit is further configured to determine a third force value associated with the third input based at least in part on a third change in capacitance between the first array of capacitive elements and the second array of capacitive elements.